NOTICES AND ORDERS OF THE DAY

Items marked  are expected to be taken during the dinner adjournment.

WEDNESDAY 20TH NOVEMBER

At half-past two oclock

*The Lord Dormand of EasingtonTo ask Her Majestys Government for which subjects there is a shortage of teachers and what action they are taking to remedy any shortage.

*The Lord Campbell of CroyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they possess powers to intervene if they consider that statues of national importance in London may be damaged by inappropriate methods of cleaning.

*The Lord Hardy of WathTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they intend to introduce regulations to control the misuse or inappropriate ignition of fireworks.

*The Baroness WilcoxTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they would support a move towards tax harmonisation within the European Union.

*The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the National Health Service is adequately prepared to cope with terrorist attacks or disasters.

[The Chairman of Committees intends to move the following five motions en bloc: but if any Lord objects the motions must be moved separately to the extent desired.]

Economic AffairsThe Chairman of Committees to move, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider economic affairs;

That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following Lords be named of the Committee:

That the Committee have power to appoint a sub-committee and to refer to such sub-committee any of the matters within the terms of reference of the Committee; that the Committee have power to appoint the Chairman of such sub-committee;

That the Committee have power to co-opt any Lord for the purpose of serving on such sub-committee;

That the Committee have power to adjourn from place to place;

That the Committee have power to appoint specialist advisers;

That the Committee have leave to report from time to time;

That the minutes of evidence taken before the Economic Affairs Committee in the last session of Parliament be referred to the Committee;

That the minutes of evidence taken before the Committee or any sub-committee from time to time shall, if the Committee think fit, be printed.

Hybrid InstrumentsThe Chairman of Committees to move, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider hybrid instruments and that, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following Lords together with the Chairman of Committees be named of the Committee:

L. Campbell of Alloway
V. Craigavon
B. Fookes
L. King of West Bromwich

L. Luke
L. Sandberg
B. Wilkins.

LiaisonThe Chairman of Committees to move, That a Select Committee be appointed to advise the House on the resources required for select committee work and to allocate resources between select committees; to review the select committee work of the House; to consider requests for ad hoc committees and report to the House with recommendations; to ensure effective co-ordination between the two Houses; and to consider the availability of Lords to serve on committees;

That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following Lords together with the Chairman of Committees be named of the Committee:

Personal BillsThe Chairman of Committees to move, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider personal bills and that, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following Lords together with the Chairman of Committees be named of the Committee:

L. Faulkner of Worcester
B. Knight of Collingtree
L. Templeman

B. Thomas of Walliswood
L. Wilberforce.

PrivilegesThe Chairman of Committees to move, That a Committee for Privileges be appointed and that, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following Lords together with the Chairman of Committees and any four Lords of Appeal be named of the Committee:

That the Committee have power to appoint sub-committees and that such sub-committees have power to appoint their own Chairman;

That the Committee have power to co-opt any Lord for the purposes of serving on any sub-committee.

The Queens SpeechAdjourned Debate on the Motion that an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty as follows

Most Gracious Sovereign,

We, Your Majestys most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, beg leave to thank Your Majesty for the most gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.

[It is expected that the principal topics for debate will be Economic and Industrial Affairs, Culture and Media.]

THURSDAY 21ST NOVEMBER

[At eleven oclock]

[It is expected that the debate on the Address will continue and will be concluded after Starred Questions and that the principal topics for debate will be Home Affairs and Criminal Justice.]

[At three oclock]

*The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government what implications for National Health Service patients identically affected in other parts of the United Kingdom follow from the findings of the Expert Group appointed by the Scottish Executive to consider financial and other practical support for patients infected with hepatitis C by contaminated National Health Service blood, blood products or tissue.

*The Lord Ashley of StokeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether there have been any changes in the Ministry of Defences arrangements, announced in 1988, for dealing with bullying.

*The Lord Hunt of ChestertonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, following the recent World Summit at Johannesburg, they will be focussing more of their scientific research and co-ordination work towards the goals of international sustainable development; and whether this policy will be extended to all relevant Government departments and organisations funded by government.

*The Baroness RawlingsTo ask Her Majestys Government how they have responded to a recent appeal by the Ethiopian Prime Minister for international donors to help combat the onset of famine in that country.

MONDAY 25TH NOVEMBER

[Prayers will have been read]

*The Baroness Oppenheim-BarnesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether sufficient progress is being made towards the introduction of a legal requirement for all pre-packed foodstuffs sold to carry nutritional labelling.

*The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their current policy towards Iraq.

*The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government, following the decision of the European Court of Justice on 8th November that bilateral agreements on air traffic between individual member states and the United States are illegal, what action they plan to take to support the European Commission in future negotiations on behalf of the European Union to ensure equitable rights for European Union registered airlines to operate to and within the United States.

*The Lord Beaumont of WhitleyTo ask Her Majestys Government what steps they are proposing to take to remind local councils of their statutory duty to provide allotments, in view of the recent decision not to include a specific mention of this in Planning Policy Guidance Note 17.

[The Chairman of Committees intends to move the following three motions en bloc: but if any Lord objects the motions must be moved separately to the extent desired.]

InformationThe Chairman of Committees to move, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider information and communications services, including the Library and the Parliamentary Archives, within financial limits approved by the House Committee;

That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following Lords be named of the Committee:

RefreshmentThe Chairman of Committees to move, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider the refreshment services provided for the House, within financial limits approved by the House Committee;

That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following Lords be named of the Committee:

Works of ArtThe Chairman of Committees to move, That a Select Committee be appointed to administer the House of Lords Works of Art Collection Fund; and to consider matters relating to works of art in the House of Lords, within financial limits approved by the House Committee;

That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following Lords be named of the Committee:

The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)To move to resolve, That it is the opinion of this House that, subject to the requirements of business, in 2003 the summer recess should begin not later than the middle of July and the House should sit for two weeks in September.

TUESDAY 26TH NOVEMBER

*The Lord Archer of SandwellTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have plans for an alternative regime to encourage compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention if the 5th Review Conference fails to reach agreement on a monitoring protocol.

*The Lord BarnettTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will clarify further the use to which the Private Finance Initiative can be put.

*The Lord BlakerTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the five economic tests for entry into the euro include the exchange rate for sterling at which the United Kingdom would enter.

*The Baroness SeccombeTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the future of the Dome.

Licensing Bill [HL]Second Reading [The Baroness Blackstone]

WEDNESDAY 27TH NOVEMBER

*The Baroness Gardner of ParkesTo ask Her Majestys Government how many fast track visas for skilled workers have been issued for people to work in the National Health Service and what National Health Service criteria are considered essential for such a visa.

*The Baroness Scott of Needham MarketTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they propose to take in view of the fact that, outside London, bus passenger numbers have declined by 1.5 per cent for the last year for which figures are available, whilst the targets set in their ten year plan predicted an increase.

*The Baroness Williams of CrosbyTo ask Her Majestys Government what representations they have made to the Peoples Republic of China about the future implementation of powers under Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law.

The Lord Baker of DorkingTo call attention to the financial situation of British universities; and to move for papers.

THURSDAY 28TH NOVEMBER

*The Lord Janner of BraunstoneTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will introduce legislation to require all coaches to be fitted with seat belts for both drivers and passengers and all drivers and passengers to be required to wear these seat belts.

*The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government what measures they intend to introduce to encourage the growth of the private sector in healthcare.

*The Lord Astor of HeverTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the health needs of asylum seekers who have entered the United Kingdom are being met.

MONDAY 2ND DECEMBER

*The Baroness SharplesTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made towards introducing a national identity card scheme.

TUESDAY 3RD DECEMBER

*The Lord MarlesfordTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have advised electricity distribution companies in the United Kingdom of ways to reduce the risk of supplies to rural areas being interrupted as a result of severe weather.

*The Lord Roberts of ConwyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are concerned about the current level of household debt, and whether they propose to take any action.

*The Lord Renton of Mount HarryTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to deal with emergencies arising from a breakdown of the central London congestion charging scheme.

*The Lord Hurd of WestwellTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they are taking to deal with the results of overcrowding in H M Prisons.

WEDNESDAY 4TH DECEMBER

*The Baroness WilcoxTo ask Her Majestys Government what has been the impact of the introduction of the euro on price convergence in the euro zone.

*The Baroness Masham of IltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many residential drug treatment centres there are in England for people aged under 17.

The Lord DholakiaTo call attention to the role of local communities and of penal institutions in preventing crime and in rehabilitating offenders; and to move for papers.

THURSDAY 5TH DECEMBER

[At eleven oclock]

[Public business will be tabled]

[At three oclock]

The Lord Bishop of OxfordTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Select Committee on Stem Cell Research (HL Paper 83, Session 2001-02).

NO DAY NAMED

PART I

The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo call attention to the levels of pay of university teachers; and to move for papers.

The Lord BlakerTo ask Her Majestys Government what proposals they have for the future ownership and control of postal addressing.

The Lord BlakerTo ask Her Majestys Government what are their policies when faced with overwhelming humanitarian crises and massive violations of human rights in other countries.

The Baroness CoxTo ask Her Majestys Government what their response is to recent developments in Burma (Myanmar).

The Lord MoynihanTo call attention to the state of the United Kingdoms relations with Cuba; and to move for papers.

The Lord Rodgers of Quarry BankTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they are satisfied with the performance of the Civil Aviation Authority in regulating low-cost airlines.

The Lord HoyleTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made on the review of the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 (COTES).

The Baroness Massey of DarwenTo ask Her Majestys Government how they will respond to the needs of families with disabled children as highlighted in the Barnados report Still missing out?

The Lord PalmerTo call attention to the situation in the British countryside; and to move for papers.

The Lord BradshawTo call attention to the trends in the number of road deaths and casualties; and to move for papers.

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the quality and effectiveness of the United Kingdoms rail infrastructure are satisfactory.

The Baroness Scott of Needham MarketTo call attention to the state of the bus industry; and to move for papers.

The Baroness Finlay of LlandaffTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they are taking to preserve the expertise and quality of the Public Health Laboratory Service.

The Baroness Finlay of LlandaffTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they are taking to tackle the threat that obesity poses to the health and well-being of the nation.

The Lord TurnbergTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they are taking in response to the recent draft EC Directive which would allow doctors from other European Union countries to practise for 16 weeks without registration.

The Earl of SandwichTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they still expect to meet the international development targets in southern Africa.

The Lord FreybergTo call attention to the role of design in improving public services; and to move for papers.

The Lord Pearson of RannochTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the significance of (a) the euro and (b) the United States dollar to the United Kingdom economy.

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to promote the well-being and competitiveness of the United Kingdoms soap and detergent industry.

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the services available to patients with Motor Neurone Disease are adequate.

The Lord NorthbourneTo call attention to the role of parents in providing for the needs of the nations children in the 21st century and to the case for making available more encouragement and support for parents; and to move for papers.

The Lord FreemanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether progress to date with the efficient use of resources in East Africa arising from debt relief and increased direct overseas aid is satisfactory.

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo call attention to the case for the abolition of the judicial functions of the House of Lords and the creation of separate Supreme and Constitutional Courts; and to move for papers.

The Baroness HooperTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they intend to review the implications of taxation on the preservation and conservation of the cultural heritage of the United Kingdom.

The Lord Hardy of WathTo call attention to the coal industry, the development of clean coal technology and the maintenance of a mining engineering industry within the United Kingdom; and to move for papers.

The Earl of OnslowTo call attention to the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles; and to move for papers.

Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002The Earl of Onslow to move, That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that the Regulations, laid before the House on 31st October, be annulled (S.I. 2002/2675).

PART II

MOTION FOR BALLOTED DEBATE

[Ballot on 4th December for debate on 18th December]

The Baroness Oppenheim-BarnesTo call attention to the impact of traffic conditions on the life and economy of London; and to move for papers.

PART III

SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS

[The date in brackets is that on which the Report was published]

The Baroness Harris of RichmondTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on Working in Europe: Access for All (15th Report, HL Paper 88, Session 2001-02). [11th March]

The Lord CrickhowellTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on Reducing the Risk: Regulating Industrial Chemicals (13th Report, HL Paper 81, Session 2001-02). [12th March]

The Lord GrenfellTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on Responding to the Balkan challenge: the role of EU aid (20th Report, HL Paper 107, Session 2001-02). [4th May]

The Lord Smith of CliftonTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures (HL Paper 150, Session 2001-02). [24th July]

The Lord GrenfellTo move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on The Convention on the Future of Europe (30th Report, HL Paper 163, Session 2001-02). [1st August]

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

[Tabled on 19th November]

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the problems associated with the Thomas Coram Foundations charitable status have been resolved so that the pictures in the Bloomsbury gallery will be on regular public view. (HL152)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government when they will announce the publication date of the National Service Framework delivery strategy for diabetes; and what additional resources will be provided to ensure its successful implementation. (HL153)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government what more the United Kingdom and the European Union can do to promote the Free Trade Area amongst the European Unions 12 partner countries bordering the Mediterranean; and whether they support political, social and economic reforms in the area, in conjunction with the removal of barriers in the agricultural and service sectors and the introduction of greater flexibility on rules of origin in the textile and clothing industries. (HL154)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the success of the process instituted at the Lisbon Council designed to promote greater levels of entrepreneurship in small and medium-sized enterprises in Britain and in the European Union; and how they will contribute to Commissioner for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Erkki Liikanens proposed Green Paper on the subject. (HL155)

The Lord VinsonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether money intended for regeneration projects under the Market Towns Initiative is reaching its intended targets; and, in particular, whether the Single Programme, administered by officers of the Northumberland Strategic Partnership, has not subsumed funds intended for the town of Alnwick. (HL156)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government what sums of public money have been, or are to be, allocated to the National Health Service Pension Fund to provide concessionary pension benefits for health service employees who have been granted early retirement in the financial years 2001-02 and 2002-03 to date. (HL157)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government how many managerial staff, at each grade and for each region of the National Health Service, have been granted concessionary pension benefits arising from early retirement during the financial years 2001-02 and 2002-03 to date. (HL158)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government how many managerial employees of the National Health Service who took early retirement in the financial years 2001-02 and 2002-03 to date were aged 61-65, 56-60, 51-55, and 50 and under respectively. (HL159)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government what expenditure has been incurred by the Department of Health in respect of services rendered by private sector consultants during the financial years 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 respectively. (HL160)

The Lord RotherwickTo ask Her Majestys Government when Customs and Excise will be taking over a range of responsibilities for control of illegal imports of meat. (HL161)

The Lord RotherwickTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Customs and Excise will receive extra funding in order to cover their running of a range of responsibilities for control of illegal imports of meat. (HL162)

The Lord RotherwickTo ask Her Majestys Government when they anticipate that Metropolitan Police dogs will be used at ports of entry to detect illegal imports of meat. (HL163)

The Lord RotherwickTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the dogs belonging to the Metropolitan Police, which are being trained to detect illegal imports of meat, will eventually come under the control of the Metropolitan Police or Customs and Excise. (HL164)

The Lord MonsonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 24th July (WA 73), whether they will make it clear to all persons recommended for the grant of a life peerage that the peerage so granted may be time-limited if Recommendation 103 in the Report of the Royal Commission on Reform of the House of Lords is implemented. (HL165)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government in how many cases people have been committed to prison by magistrates courts for local tax default since the poll tax was introduced; and how many such committals were subsequently declared unlawful by the High Court. (HL166)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government what representations they have had concerning the penalty of committal to prison in default of payment of community charge, council tax and other local taxes; and whether they have any plans to amend the law to abolish the penalty. (HL167)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government what information they have on the decision of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to compensate Gulf War veterans afflicted with Lou Gehrigs disease, and the reasoning that informed their decision. (HL168)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government what has been their response to the decision of the European Commission not to pursue the cases in the European Court of Justice against France for its illegal ban on United Kingdom beef; and what representations they have made to the Commission since this decision. (HL169)

The Lord Watson of RichmondTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made in identifying, locating and freezing the assets of leading members of Mr Mugabes regime. (HL170)

The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government whether any of their 500 Sure Start programmes for deprived children include any rural communities. (HL171)

The Lord Butler of BrockwellTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 22nd October (WA 93), when the requirement for employees to pay National Insurance contributions relating to employees over the State pension age was introduced. (HL172)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 125) concerning education in Northern Ireland, whether the emerging consensus is contained in the responses to the extensive consultation; and what are the figures showing widespread demand for change. (HL173)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 119), whether they propose that the Security Service team should also conduct an independent and authoritative review of security in the entire Northern Ireland civil service. (HL174)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 178) which indicated that there are 79 hospital consultant vacancies in Northern Ireland, what proportion of the total number of hospital consultants this comprises; and what steps they are taking to remedy the position. (HL175)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what discussion they have had on reported NATO proposals for pre-emptive military strikes against suspected terrorists without prior approval or consent from the state in question; and how such strikes can be reconciled with existing international law and the desirable global rule of law. (HL176)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what representations they intend to make to the Government of Israel concerning the potential loss of greenhouses, olive trees and citrus trees, belonging mainly to Palestinians, which would result from the erection by Israel of a long security fence. (HL177)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Harmondsworth Detention/ Removal Centre contains asylum applicants whose cases have not been finally decided; if so, how many and why; whether there are still some 45 children under 18 in this Centre; and what provision is made for their education. (HL178)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many asylum applicants without final decisions are currently held in detention in England and Wales. (HL179)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many people under 18 years of age are currently detained in adult prisons; and when the Government intend to apply the Children Act 1989 to such cases. (HL180)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how many posts within the Northern Ireland civil service are classed as sensitive posts or higher; how many of those post holders possess valid security clearances; whether any Northern Ireland civil servants whose security clearances have expired are still in post; and, if so, why. (HL181)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 123), whether this means that the Linguistic Diversity branch of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland does not contain officials with expertise in the Irish language and in Ulster Scots language and culture; and, if not, why not. (HL182)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 174) concerning the Irish Governments respect for tradition, what were the 137 organisations involved in a wide range of cross-community education research and outreach programmes in 1999 and 2000; how much each received and for what project; what percentage went to groups in the Irish Republic; and what was the equality proofing for the allocations. (HL183)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether exposure to tobacco smoke for people with asthma often leads to more severe symptoms such as reduced lung function, lower quality of life and increased use of the health service; and whether they will now ban smoking in the workplace or in public areas. (HL184)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the two parts of the Language Implementation Body, as an international body set up under the Belfast Agreement of 1998, have an equal relationship with the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and its counterpart in the Government of the Irish Republic. (HL185)

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER AWAITING ANSWER

19th NOVEMBER 2002

[Tabled on the dates shown]

[The Government department responsible for

answering each Question is shown in brackets]

13th November

The Earl of NortheskTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their policy towards the procurement of open-source as opposed to proprietary software; and what proportion of software, procured for use by (a) central government, (b) local government and (c) the public sector is from open-source sources. [HMT] (HL1)

The Earl of NortheskTo ask Her Majestys Government, in the light of recent reports about the £57,000 quarterly internet bill charged to Sandhurst primary school in Lewisham, what arrangements are in place for Government funding of internet connections in particular, and information technology provision more generally, for the education sector. [DfES] (HL2)

The Lord FreybergTo ask Her Majestys Government whether it is illegal for cyclists to cycle at night with only flashing front and rear lights; and, if so, how many prosecutions were made last year. [HO] (HL3)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether any combination of checks and tests carried out on goods vehicles prior to embarkation on a cross-channel ferry can be reasonably certain of detecting clandestine entrants. [HO] (HL4)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they are taking to prevent a terrorist from stowing away on a cross-channel ferry and, whilst the ferry is under way, sabotaging or placing an improvised explosive device on a vehicle carrying a hazardous load. [DfT] (HL5)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the number of disabled children in the United Kingdom. [DoH] (HL6)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government how many disabled children live with their families; and how many in residential care. [DoH] (HL7)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government what percentage of disabled children currently living at home could be classified as children living in poverty. [DoH] (HL8)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the average cost for each disabled child in residential care; and what is the average cost of the financial and physical support given by local authorities and health authorities for each disabled child living with their parents. [DoH] (HL9)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government what support services and financial help are provided for families with disabled children living at home; whether these services take account of the extra cost of caring for a disabled child; and whether these services are available uniformly throughout the United Kingdom. [DoH] (HL10)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government which ten local authority and National Health Service areas provide the most help (financial and physical) to disabled children living at home; and which ten local authority and National Health Service areas provide the least support. [DoH] (HL11)

The Earl RussellTo ask Her Majestys Government how and when it came about that British subjects resident in former Yugoslavia are entitled to annual uprating of their State pensions while British subjects resident in Canada are not; and what is the logical principle which justifies the difference between the treatment of British subjects in former Yugoslavia and those in Canada. [DWP] (HL12)

The Lord Lamont of LerwickTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Amos on 6th November (WA 103), whether they will raise the question of the continuing detention without trial of Asif Ali Zardari. [FCO] (HL13)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Filkin on 4th November (WA 67), whether they will publish the framework agreements between the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Commission and the responsible Ministers. [HO] (HL14)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether it is their intention to withdraw from the European Convention on Adoption in view of the Adoption and Children Act 2002. [DoH] (HL15)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government whether reliable information is available as to the effects of creating reduced size classrooms in state-maintained schools for children from low income families; and, if not, whether they will commission research to test the effects of such a policy. [DfES] (HL16)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government how many Anti-Social Behaviour Orders have been made by the courts in England and Wales. [HO] (HL17)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government how many Drug Abstinence Orders have been made by the courts in England and Wales. [HO] (HL18)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government how many child curfews have been imposed by the courts in England and Wales. [HO] (HL19)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the statistics collected by the Department of Health on delayed discharge and emergency re-admission are publicly available on the Department of Health website; and, if they are not, for what reasons. [DoH] (HL20)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government how much was spent in 2001-02 on tax relief for private pension contributions. [HMT] (HL21)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government what amount would have been spent in 2001-02 if tax relief for private pension contributions had been restricted to the basic rate of taxation. [HMT] (HL22)

The Lord Clement-JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 14th October (WA 36-37), whether they consider it would be appropriate for manufacturer representatives to be given the opportunity to sit on or present evidence to the various national committees. [DoH] (HL23)

The Lord Clement-JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the risk of transfusion-related acute lung injury from blood transfusion has been given a lower priority to date than the theoretical risk from vCJD; and why no action to protect patients against the risk of transfusion-related acute lung injury has been taken. [DoH] (HL24)

The Lord Clement-JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government what further measures they plan in order to reduce the level of hepatitis B transfusion-transmitted infection, stated in the SHOT annual report 2000-01 to be eight cases over six years. [DoH] (HL25)

The Lord Clement-JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government, in light of the recent discovery of West Nile virus in the United Kingdom and recent transmission issues relating to the virus in the United States

(a) what plans they are making to prevent spread of the virus through blood and plasma transfusions in the United Kingdom; and

(b) what validation studies were conducted to ensure that Methylene Blue inactivation of United States plasma will remove the risk of transmission of pathogenic viruses, including WNV, from United States-sourced blood and plasma products available in the United Kingdom. [DoH] (HL26)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they believe that there should be closer co-ordination in the veterinary risk advice that is provided nationally by Government and regionally through State Veterinary Service Animal Health Offices. [DEFRA] (HL27)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, as a matter of policy, all changes by Government in animal disease control legislation requiring implementation by local authorities should be supported by appropriate risk-assessment guidance. [DEFRA] (HL28)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the appropriate local authority (the county council where that applies) should hold sole responsibility for closures of rights of way, or other pathways, under the Foot and Mouth Order 1983, replacing the present arrangements whereby powers are held both by the local authority and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. [DEFRA] (HL29)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they believe that there should be greater flexibility in State Aid Rules to allow specific economic emergencies, such as those that occurred in Cumbria in 2001, to be addressed. [DTI] (HL30)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether there should be a programme of research to provide an improved understanding of the relationship between economic activities and the creation of jobs in the Cumbrian economy. [DWP] (HL31)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether following the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001 in Cumbria the county council, the environmental health departments, the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs should jointly consider what might be done to map where materials are buried and where necessary to address any safety issues that may emerge. [DEFRA] (HL32)

The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government, following the recent urban summit, whether they intend now to hold a rural summit. [DEFRA] (HL33)

The Lord JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government how many (1) child and adolescent psychiatrists and (2) paediatricians with expertise in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder there are in (a) England and (b) Wales. [DoH] (HL34)

The Lord JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government what initiatives are being taken in (a) England and (b) Wales to ensure that there are no delays in access to assessment and to treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder cases. [DoH] (HL35)

The Lord JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government what new financial resources have been made available in (a) England and (b) Wales to tackle problems concerning attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. [DoH] (HL36)

The Lord JonesTo ask Her Majestys Government how many extra (1) consultants and (2) school nurses have been recruited in (a) England and (b) Wales to tackle attention deficit hyperactivity disorder cases. [DoH] (HL37)

The Lord Beaumont of WhitleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will take steps to ensure the future of the National Association of Farmers Markets. [DEFRA] (HL38)

The Lord Beaumont of WhitleyTo ask Her Majestys Government how many local authorities have deferred payments of business rates from British Energy; and how much this has cost the local authorities concerned. [ODPM] (HL39)

The Lord Beaumont of WhitleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they consider that the deferment of payments of business rates, such as those granted by Lancaster City Council to British Energy, can be deemed to be exempt from the obligation of publication. [ODPM] (HL40)

The Lord VinsonTo ask Her Majestys Government what the Food Standards Agency estimates to be the cost of inspecting and regulating eating establishments if their recommendation that the calorific value of all meals should be displayed is to be implemented. [DoH] (HL41)

The Lord Hunt of ChestertonTo ask Her Majestys Government what are the policies on the issues of resources, sanitation and flooding that they will be advocating in 2003 at the World Water Forum and during the World Water Year. [DfID] (HL42)

The Lord Hunt of ChestertonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether during 2003, the World Water Year, they will be ensuring that all the relevant government departments and agencies providing United Kingdoms representatives will be advocating consistent policies at the United Nations agencies and international bodies concerned with water issues; and whether the United Kingdom will be increasing its funding to those organisations for these policies. [DfID] (HL43)

The Lord LucasTo ask Her Majestys Government when they will be able to reply to the representations made by the Independent Schools Council on the issue of changes in visa regulations for gap assistants. [HO] (HL44)

The Lord LucasTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will make any of the radio spectrum around 2 gigahertz available for rural broadband. [DTI] (HL45)

The Lord Jenkin of RodingTo ask Her Majestys Government why they did not consult the representative bodies of local authorities before announcing their proposed reforms to tackle delays in discharging older people from hospital. [DoH] (HL46)

The Lord Jenkin of RodingTo ask Her Majestys Government why they will not reconsider the principles of their proposed reforms announced in April to tackle delays in discharging older people from hospital, in the light of the representations from the Local Government Association and others. [DoH] (HL47)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made in reducing any disparity of funding between primary schools and post primary schools in (a) England and Wales and (b) Northern Ireland since the Second Report of the House of Commons Education Committee 1993-94; and whether they have any plans to provide equality of funding for the primary school children of Northern Ireland. [DfES] (HL48)

The Baroness Park of MonmouthTo ask Her Majestys Government what kind of administration they foresee for Zimbabwe in a post-Mugabe era. [FCO] (HL49)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the expected capital cost of moving the Eurostar maintenance facilities from North Pole to Temple Mills in London; and who would be responsible for the costs of such a move. [DfT] (HL50)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government what assessment has been done of the costs and benefits of moving the Eurostar maintenance facilities from North Pole to Temple Mills in London, and compared with creating a small stabling siding at Temple Mills and undertaking most maintenance at Paris or Brussels. [DfT] (HL51)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government who financed the creation of a new refuelling facility for EWS Railway at Temple Mills; why it was necessary; how much it cost; and what was the date of opening. [DfT] (HL52)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government why they imposed a compulsory purchase notice on EWS Railways new refuelling facility at Temple Mills on the date that it opened; what alternative refuelling arrangements will be provided and where; and what are the total estimated costs of such a further move. [DfT] (HL53)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government, in respect of the proposed guided busway between Luton and Dunstable, what is the latest estimate of cost to benefit of this scheme reported in the recently completed study by Ove Arup for the Department for Transport; how much funding would be required from the private sector; and whether they will place a copy of this report in the Library of the House. [DfT] (HL54)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government which organisations are responsible for funding the programme of railway overbridge strengthening now being undertaken; what is the total cost; and what is the purpose of this work. [DfT] (HL55)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their assessment of the accuracy of reports by the United States global intelligence firm Straffor on 8th November that Russian intelligence services are working together with pro-Russian Iraqi generals in order to oust the Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein. [FCO] (HL56)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they intend to take any action in response to the reported statement by the Chairman of the Convention on the future of Europe that the admission of Turkey to the European Union would mark the end of the European Union. [FCO] (HL57)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government what practical support they will be offering to gain backing for the United Nations Secretary-Generals proposals for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. [FCO] (HL58)

The Lord MoynihanTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 4th November (WA 53), whether they have evidence to suggest that an attack by Iraq is imminent. [FCO] (HL59)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answers by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 119-121) concerning the appointment of a Chief Executive for the Irish Language Agency, whether they believe that ratification of the appointment was to be by the total Language Implementation Body, as required by paragraph 2.10 of part 5 of the Implementation Bodies Agreement of 8th March 1999 (Cm 4706); whether they received legal opinions on this issue; and whether they will place any opinions which they or the Government of the Irish Republic authorities received in the Library of the House. [NIO] (HL60)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will ensure that any arrangements made in the North South Ministerial Council during direct rule will be accountable, open and transparent and handled on the British side by politicians and not civil servants. [NIO] (HL61)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answers by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 119-121) concerning the appointment of a Chief Executive to the Irish Language Agency, where the meeting of the North South Ministerial Council of 27th November 2001 was held; who attended; and what else was discussed. [NIO] (HL62)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 176-177) concerning the Food Safety Promotion Board, how the operation of the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000 can be monitored if the religious breakdown of the employees is not noted; and what information about each employee is recorded. [NIO] (HL63)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 120-121) concerning the business plan for the Irish Language Body which indicated that the plan was approved by the North South Ministerial Council on 14th June, why the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure in his official report to the Northern Ireland Assembly stated that the Council received updates on the business plans; and whether an update now denotes formal approval. [NIO] (HL64)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 172) about the North South Ministerial Council, what issues relating to the Boord o Ulster Scotch were discussed at the North South Ministerial Council meeting which was held on 9th October; and why the Boord was not informed about these discussions. [NIO] (HL65)

The Lord NorthbourneTo ask Her Majestys Government how many persons were awarded the National Diploma in Social Work last year; and how this figure compares with each of the previous five years. [DfES] (HL66)

The Lord NorthbourneTo ask Her Majestys Government what proportion of the staff currently employed in local authority childrens homes for residential care have a relevant professional qualification in residential social work; and whether they consider that proportion to be satisfactory. [DoH] (HL67)

The Lord NorthbourneTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they accept the finding of the Joint Inspectorate Review published by Ofsted (October 2002) that staff shortages in key services including schools and social services departments are in some local authorities a problem seriously affecting the quality of the service they offer; and, if so, what action is being taken to remedy these staff shortages. [DfES] (HL68)

14th November

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they believe that county councils such as Cumbria County Council which have been seriously affected by foot-and-mouth disease should seek to establish a forum in which the public sector agencies covering environment and health would meet on an annual or more frequent basis. [DEFRA] (HL70)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they believe that, where appropriate, county councils such as Cumbria County Council which have been seriously affected by foot-and-mouth disease should build on the foot-and-mouth disease task force model and create similar, but smaller, groups to help take forward initiatives related to the countys post-foot-and-mouth disease recovery and regeneration. [DEFRA] (HL71)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they believe that in any future disease outbreak leading to any general legal declaration covering the closure of footpaths or land by county councils such a declaration should be made on a strictly time-limited basis, for example 28 days. [DEFRA] (HL72)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they believe that tourism organisations should advise the tourism industry of the limitations of existing insurance cover and, together with the Regional Development Agencies, make representations to the insurance industry for the development of policies that would provide cover in the circumstances that occurred in counties seriously affected by foot-and-mouth disease in 2001. [DEFRA] (HL73)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will undertake or commission further work into the emotional, social and mental health consequences of foot-and-mouth disease in Cumbria; and whether the research should be extended to encompass children. [DoH] (HL74)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will state their future plans for the Watchtree site in Cumbria; and particularly whether it should be permanently closed for disposal of animal carcasses or other waste. [DEFRA] (HL75)

The Lord Lester of Herne HillTo ask Her Majestys Government what proportion of the Fire Service in England and Wales are (a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities. [ODPM] (HL76)

The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will set up rural regeneration companies to match the 11 urban regeneration companies that they have created. [DEFRA] (HL77)

The Lord FearnTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they approve of farmers spraying potato crops with sulphuric acid. [DEFRA] (HL78)

The Baroness WilcoxTo ask Her Majestys Government how much money has been spent by the Cabinet Office on external consulting contracts in each of the years since 1996-97. [CO] (HL79)

The Baroness WilcoxTo ask Her Majestys Government how much money has been spent by the Treasury on external consulting contracts in each of the years since 1996-97. [HMT] (HL80)

The Baroness Scott of Needham MarketTo ask Her Majestys Government what consultation took place in advance of the issue of the new safety camera partnership handbook which came into force on 30th June. [DfT] (HL81)

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the passage of the Contracting Out (Functions in relation to Apsley House) Order 2002 in February, when they will announce the name of the body to which the management of Apsley House will be transferred; and whether a member (or members) of the Wellington family will be formally invited to be involved in the future management of the House. [DCMS] (HL82)

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the total amount of unenforced and uncollected fines in England and Wales in 2000 and 2001. [LCD] (HL83)

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government what mechanism exists between the National Asylum Support Service and the Legal Services Commission as to notification of the location of dispersed asylum seekers, both those with support and accommodation and those with support only, so that the Legal Services Commission can ensure that there are sufficient suppliers of legal advice for the asylum seekers to access it. [HO] (HL84)

The Baroness Anelay of St JohnsTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the total expenditure incurred by the Home Office on work carried out by consultants during the financial years 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02. [HO] (HL85)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 119-120) concerning the appointment of a Chief Executive for the Irish Language Agency, for which the procedure was approved on 27th June 2001 at a meeting in Waterways Sector format of the North South Ministerial Council, why this decision is not recorded in the joint communiqué which contains all decisions issued after the meeting; and what other decisions concerning the Language Sector have not been recorded in the joint communiqués. [NIO] (HL86)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 171-172) concerning the Language Implementation Body, who are the co-chairpersons of the Boord o Ulstèr Scotch; and, if there is only one chairperson, why there was a reference to co-chairpersons in the answer. [NIO] (HL87)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 169) concerning Implementation Boards, whether any accounting years other than the calendar year apply; and, if so, when and why. [NIO] (HL88)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 166) concerning the Northern Ireland block grant, what is the underspend for the year 2002-03. [NIO] (HL89)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answers by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 170 and WA 171-172), whether the word North refers to the most northerly county of the island of Ireland, Donegal; and, if not, why are the component parts of the Council not referred to by their legal titles. [NIO] (HL90)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what proposals they have to ensure that professional domestic nannies are qualified; and whether their details are held on a central register. [DfES] (HL91)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will list the numbers and pumping capacity of all portable, transportable or towable pumps held in the inventory of the Royal Engineers. [MoD] (HL92)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will list the numbers and pumping capacity of all portable, transportable or towable pumps held in depot for land use by the Defence Logistic Organisation. [MoD] (HL93)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will list the numbers and pumping capacity of all portable, transportable or towable pumps held in depot for the use of the Royal Navy by the Defence Logistic Organisation. [MoD] (HL94)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether there is anything preventing the Royal Engineers from hiring portable pumps from normal civilian plant hire companies in order to deal with flooding incidents normally dealt with by local fire brigades. [MoD] (HL95)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government how the complexity of an Army 6 x 6 heavy recovery vehicle compares with a modern fire appliance; and what is the duration of a Territorial Army class three recovery mechanic course at the Armys School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. [MoD] (HL96)

The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove BayTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 10th June (WA 1-2)

(a) how many life peers there are in each of the three parties and on the Cross-Benches; and

(b) if no further life peers are created, what statistically would the number in each party be likely to be in each of the next 30 years. [LCD] (HL97)

The Lord LucasTo ask Her Majestys Government what data they have on the numbers of new cars registered per head of population in each of the last five years for which records are available, analysed by region or by local authority areas. [DfT] (HL98)

18th November

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether in counties seriously affected by foot-and-mouth disease they will encourage the relevant development agencies and county councils to build on existing initiatives to establish an intensive programme of regional economic monitoring that will provide the detailed up-to-date data necessary to allow business support initiatives to be targeted to the needs for economic regeneration. [ODPM] (HL101)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they intend to take to encourage operators of landfill and of mass burial sites in counties seriously affected by foot-and-mouth disease to build on existing initiatives to ensure that complaints of smell or other environmental intrusions on the local community are fully addressed. [DEFRA] (HL102)

The Lord InglewoodTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will encourage county councils in counties seriously affected by foot-and-mouth disease to build on the work of the Restriction Review Team to establish regular meetings between responsible bodies and key stakeholders to develop methods and policies to protect and enhance countryside access. [ODPM] (HL103)

The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will match their plans for a community development venture fund in urban areas with a similar fund in rural areas. [DEFRA] (HL104)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Royal Air Force will continue to be able to overfly central and east Warwickshire, if a major new airport is built on land between Coventry and Rugby. [MoD] (HL105)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, if the Royal Air Force cannot continue to overfly central and east Warwickshire, they will be able to move their operations elsewhere; and, if so, where. [MoD] (HL106)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government to what extent the Royal Air Forces flight and navigational training programmes will be adversely affected if they cannot continue to overfly central and east Warwickshire. [MoD] (HL107)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government at what point all cases that are similar to, but not included in, the Roth case, which concerned clandestine entrants and the civil penalty, will be concluded. [HO] (HL108)

The Earl AttleeTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the total sum of civil penalties collected in cases that are similar to, but not included in, the Roth case, which concerned clandestine entrants and the civil penalty. [HO] (HL109)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 7th November (WA 131), given that it is forbidden for an elector to vote in two separate local elections in separate local authorities on the same day, what is the rationale for permitting the elector to exercise a second vote where one of the elections is a by-election held to fill a casual vacancy. [ODPM] (HL110)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the fact that a citizen who is registered to vote in two local authorities may not vote in elections held in more than one local authority on the same day breaches the principle of no taxation without representation. [ODPM] (HL111)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government how successful the blending of environmental policy with European Union transport policy, as heralded by Her Majestys Government at the 1998 Cardiff Council, has been; and what European Union environmental targets in the transport sector have subsequently been set and implemented. [DEFRA] (HL112)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government what increase in student numbers for courses devoted to European studies there have been in Britains higher education institutions over the past (a) five years and (b) ten years; and whether they will consider widening grants to higher education institutions to promote European studies, similar to the euro 7.2 million given to the European Research Institute at Birmingham University. [DfES] (HL113)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, as suggested by David Byrne, the European Union Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, there is a potential risk of cancer to consumers, especially children, from frozen chips and crisps containing the chemical Acrylamide. [DoH] (HL114)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they support the introduction of the European Union Directive concerned with the re-use and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment; what savings they expect, in terms of environmental benefit; and what might offset the predicted two per cent price rise of goods in the shops. [DTI] (HL115)

The Lord Stoddart of SwindonTo ask Her Majestys Government what proportion of the 31,261 trainee teachers are men; and how this proportion breaks down between those undertaking primary education courses (14,476) and those undertaking secondary education courses (16,785). [DfES] (HL116)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether vehicles will be able to travel along the new Newtownstewart by-pass in Northern Ireland before Christmas; and when this by-pass will be opened. [NIO] (HL117)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government what is the estimated population of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; and how many of this population will have to be re-settled on the basis of each of the two maps in the present United Nations Proposals for the future constitution for Cyprus. [FCO] (HL118)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the former Minister for Regional Development in the Northern Ireland Devolved Executive requested an allocation of £48 million to this Department for the purchase of new trains in the present financial year; when these trains were due for delivery; whether any of this £48 million has been re-allocated to other Departments; and whether all this £48 million will be spent during the present financial year. [NIO] (HL119)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the Prestige oil tanker, in distress off the Galicia coast of Spain, was sailing to Gibraltar; and what advice has been given to the Government of Spain. [FCO] (HL120)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they propose to take to improve the quality of data provided to the National Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Deaths. [DoH] (HL121)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government (a) what progress has been made in setting up care trusts; (b) which care trusts are being developed; and (c) when these are expected to operate as care trusts. [DoH] (HL122)

The Baroness NoakesTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 29th July (WA 156), whether they are yet able to publish final figures for general and acute activity, analysed into elective and non-elective, for the year ended 31st March 2002. [DoH] (HL123)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether, and if so from whom, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received representations about the possible miscarriage of justice in the cases of Alami and Botmeh (1996), in addition to the 21 representations to the Home Office mentioned in the Written Answer of 24th July by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton (WA 96-97). [FCO] (HL124)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what was the outcome of the visits made in January, February and May, by officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Security Services to the seven or more British citizens detained without trial by the United States at Camp X-ray in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; whether these men were in good mental and physical health; when they are expected to be released, or whether they are suspected of war crimes or other offences; if so, when they will be charged; and by whom. [FCO] (HL125)

The Baroness Hilton of EggardonTo ask Her Majestys Government why a habitat action plan (HAP) for ponds is not being prepared since ponds meet the criteria for priority habitats under the United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan. [DEFRA] (HL126)

The Baroness Hilton of EggardonTo ask Her Majestys Government how they intend to ensure that the conservation of small water bodies is adequately addressed in the forthcoming Biodiversity Strategy for England. [DEFRA] (HL127)

The Baroness Hilton of EggardonTo ask Her Majestys Government how they intend to ensure that agri-environment schemes contain mechanisms for identifying ponds for high priority for nature conservation. [DEFRA] (HL128)

The Lord Beaumont of WhitleyTo ask Her Majestys Government what plans they have to foster and develop a British solar thermal industry to rival those of Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. [DTI] (HL129)

The Lord Beaumont of WhitleyTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have plans to extend their subsidy of central heating for domestic users to solar water heating. [DTI] (HL130)

The Lord Corbett of Castle ValeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will call upon the Government of Hungary to repeal Law LXXXXIV 2001 [PA 153] on the grounds that it may discriminate against minority religions and be incompatible with membership of the European Union. [FCO] (HL131)

The Lord Ashley of StokeTo ask Her Majestys Government what action they have taken to ensure that families and elderly residents in private residential care homes have complaints fully investigated; what actions management can be required to take; what monitoring is in place; what sanctions are available; and what compensation is available to residents if there is evidence of negligence and abuse. [DoH] (HL132)

The Lord Ashley of StokeTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they will ensure that the National Care Standards Commission regulates minimum standards for contracts between private care homes and residents. [DoH] (HL133)

The Lord Ashley of StokeTo ask Her Majestys Government what percentage of elderly people requiring residential care are in private care homes. [DoH] (HL134)

The Baroness GreengrossTo ask Her Majestys Government what work the British Council has done or plans to do which is targeted at people over 50. [FCO] (HL135)

The Lord BerkeleyTo ask Her Majestys Government on whose recommendation passenger lifts at most surface railway stations were closed to passengers but still available to railway staff because of the strike by firemen starting 13th November; what risk assessment was made of the dangers to life caused by a defective lift compared with a railway or road accident; and, if the lifts were considered unsafe for passengers without the immediate availability of national fire crews, whether the railway employers were complying with their duties under health and safety legislation by allowing their own staff to use the lifts. [DfT] (HL136)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the full allocations of funding to the two parts of the Language Implementation Body by the North South Ministerial Council have been spent in each year since 1999; if not, how much was not spent; by whom; and in what proportions the funding was released back to the United Kingdom Government and that of the Irish Republic. [NIO] (HL137)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government what funding or resources have been made available to the Irish Language Agency, similar to that referred to in the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 120) concerning two assistant editor posts, in each year since 1999; and for what the funding or resources were used. [NIO] (HL138)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how many full-time permanent employees there were in each cross-border body, set up under the Belfast Agreement of 1998, taking the Irish Agency and the Ulster Scots Agency separately, currently and for the year 2000 and the year 2001. [NIO] (HL139)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 174), how many representatives of the Ulster protestant, Ulster Scots, and Ulster unionist communities in the Irish Republic are members of the Irish Human Rights Commission. [NIO] (HL140)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 120) concerning the appointment of two assistant editor posts for the Irish Language Agency, on what date the Agency was informed that North South Ministerial Council approval was required and that approval could be given at a meeting of 9th October; who provided that information; why the same facility was not offered to the Ulster Scots Agency; who designed the job specifications and salary scale; and which Departments approved them. [NIO] (HL141)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government when they propose to make digital hearing aids available in Northern Ireland on the National Health Service. [NIO] (HL142)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they know when the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will complete and report on its review of the Institute of Hearing Research of the project to modernise hearing aid services; and what form this review will take. [DoH] (HL143)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government how many of the existing sites chosen for the second phase of the Modernising Hearing Aid Services project are currently fitting digital hearing aids. [DoH] (HL144)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government, in view of the demands of leading edge technology, what plans are in place to improve the skills of existing technicians in the National Health Services hearing aid service who will be needed to fit digital hearing aids, now that there are plans to make these available to National Health Service patients. [DoH] (HL145)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government what estimates have been made of the need for additional highly skilled technical staff to be recruited and trained to fit new digital hearing aids successfully; and what plans have been made to close the skills gap that is likely during the years before new graduates start working in this area. [DoH] (HL146)

The Baroness Howe of IdlicoteTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their assessment of the pilot Private Finance Initiative schemes with private hearing aid consultants currently in operation; and whether they intend to develop these further. [DoH] (HL147)

The Viscount SimonTo ask Her Majestys Government what is their definition of a tobacco smoke-free workplace, given that passive or involuntary smoke inhalation can trigger asthma attacks. [DoH] (HL148)

The Viscount SimonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have any plans to introduce a public awareness campaign on the dangers of passive smoking. [DoH] (HL149)

The Viscount SimonTo ask Her Majestys Government when people with asthma can expect to be protected from passive smoking at work. [DoH] (HL150)

The Viscount SimonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether they have any plans to require tobacco manufacturers to provide additional health warnings on cigarette packets about the dangers of passive smoking including asthma. [DoH] (HL151)

19th November

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the problems associated with the Thomas Coram Foundations charitable status have been resolved so that the pictures in the Bloomsbury gallery will be on regular public view. (HL152)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government when they will announce the publication date of the National Service Framework delivery strategy for diabetes; and what additional resources will be provided to ensure its successful implementation. (HL153)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government what more the United Kingdom and the European Union can do to promote the Free Trade Area amongst the European Unions 12 partner countries bordering the Mediterranean; and whether they support political, social and economic reforms in the area, in conjunction with the removal of barriers in the agricultural and service sectors and the introduction of greater flexibility on rules of origin in the textile and clothing industries. (HL154)

The Lord HarrisonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the success of the process instituted at the Lisbon Council designed to promote greater levels of entrepreneurship in small and medium-sized enterprises in Britain and in the European Union; and how they will contribute to Commissioner for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Erkki Liikanens proposed Green Paper on the subject. (HL155)

The Lord VinsonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether money intended for regeneration projects under the Market Towns Initiative is reaching its intended targets; and, in particular, whether the Single Programme, administered by officers of the Northumberland Strategic Partnership, has not subsumed funds intended for the town of Alnwick. (HL156)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government what sums of public money have been, or are to be, allocated to the National Health Service Pension Fund to provide concessionary pension benefits for health service employees who have been granted early retirement in the financial years 2001-02 and 2002-03 to date. (HL157)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government how many managerial staff, at each grade and for each region of the National Health Service, have been granted concessionary pension benefits arising from early retirement during the financial years 2001-02 and 2002-03 to date. (HL158)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government how many managerial employees of the National Health Service who took early retirement in the financial years 2001-02 and 2002-03 to date were aged 61-65, 56-60, 51-55, and 50 and under respectively. (HL159)

The Earl HoweTo ask Her Majestys Government what expenditure has been incurred by the Department of Health in respect of services rendered by private sector consultants during the financial years 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 respectively. (HL160)

The Lord RotherwickTo ask Her Majestys Government when Customs and Excise will be taking over a range of responsibilities for control of illegal imports of meat. (HL161)

The Lord RotherwickTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Customs and Excise will receive extra funding in order to cover their running of a range of responsibilities for control of illegal imports of meat. (HL162)

The Lord RotherwickTo ask Her Majestys Government when they anticipate that Metropolitan Police dogs will be used at ports of entry to detect illegal imports of meat. (HL163)

The Lord RotherwickTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the dogs belonging to the Metropolitan Police, which are being trained to detect illegal imports of meat, will eventually come under the control of the Metropolitan Police or Customs and Excise. (HL164)

The Lord MonsonTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 24th July (WA 73), whether they will make it clear to all persons recommended for the grant of a life peerage that the peerage so granted may be time-limited if Recommendation 103 in the Report of the Royal Commission on Reform of the House of Lords is implemented. (HL165)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government in how many cases people have been committed to prison by magistrates courts for local tax default since the poll tax was introduced; and how many such committals were subsequently declared unlawful by the High Court. (HL166)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government what representations they have had concerning the penalty of committal to prison in default of payment of community charge, council tax and other local taxes; and whether they have any plans to amend the law to abolish the penalty. (HL167)

The Lord Morris of ManchesterTo ask Her Majestys Government what information they have on the decision of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to compensate Gulf War veterans afflicted with Lou Gehrigs disease, and the reasoning that informed their decision. (HL168)

The Lord KilclooneyTo ask Her Majestys Government what has been their response to the decision of the European Commission not to pursue the cases in the European Court of Justice against France for its illegal ban on United Kingdom beef; and what representations they have made to the Commission since this decision. (HL169)

The Lord Watson of RichmondTo ask Her Majestys Government what progress has been made in identifying, locating and freezing the assets of leading members of Mr Mugabes regime. (HL170)

The Lord PattenTo ask Her Majestys Government whether any of their 500 Sure Start programmes for deprived children include any rural communities. (HL171)

The Lord Butler of BrockwellTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 22nd October (WA 93), when the requirement for employees to pay National Insurance contributions relating to employees over the State pension age was introduced. (HL172)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 125) concerning education in Northern Ireland, whether the emerging consensus is contained in the responses to the extensive consultation; and what are the figures showing widespread demand for change. (HL173)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 119), whether they propose that the Security Service team should also conduct an independent and authoritative review of security in the entire Northern Ireland civil service. (HL174)

The Lord RoganTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 178) which indicated that there are 79 hospital consultant vacancies in Northern Ireland, what proportion of the total number of hospital consultants this comprises; and what steps they are taking to remedy the position. (HL175)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what discussion they have had on reported NATO proposals for pre-emptive military strikes against suspected terrorists without prior approval or consent from the state in question; and how such strikes can be reconciled with existing international law and the desirable global rule of law. (HL176)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government what representations they intend to make to the Government of Israel concerning the potential loss of greenhouses, olive trees and citrus trees, belonging mainly to Palestinians, which would result from the erection by Israel of a long security fence. (HL177)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government whether Harmondsworth Detention/ Removal Centre contains asylum applicants whose cases have not been finally decided; if so, how many and why; whether there are still some 45 children under 18 in this Centre; and what provision is made for their education. (HL178)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many asylum applicants without final decisions are currently held in detention in England and Wales. (HL179)

The Lord HyltonTo ask Her Majestys Government how many people under 18 years of age are currently detained in adult prisons; and when the Government intend to apply the Children Act 1989 to such cases. (HL180)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government how many posts within the Northern Ireland civil service are classed as sensitive posts or higher; how many of those post holders possess valid security clearances; whether any Northern Ireland civil servants whose security clearances have expired are still in post; and, if so, why. (HL181)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6th November (WA 123), whether this means that the Linguistic Diversity branch of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland does not contain officials with expertise in the Irish language and in Ulster Scots language and culture; and, if not, why not. (HL182)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7th November (WA 174) concerning the Irish Governments respect for tradition, what were the 137 organisations involved in a wide range of cross-community education research and outreach programmes in 1999 and 2000; how much each received and for what project; what percentage went to groups in the Irish Republic; and what was the equality proofing for the allocations. (HL183)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether exposure to tobacco smoke for people with asthma often leads to more severe symptoms such as reduced lung function, lower quality of life and increased use of the health service; and whether they will now ban smoking in the workplace or in public areas. (HL184)

The Lord LairdTo ask Her Majestys Government whether the two parts of the Language Implementation Body, as an international body set up under the Belfast Agreement of 1998, have an equal relationship with the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and its counterpart in the Government of the Irish Republic. (HL185)

BILLS IN PROGRESS

[The date in square brackets is the date for which the bill is set down]